What class would I have to take to be a vet?

Hi Ann
Having a career that you enjoy will be a better indicator of success than making a lot of money! Lesson learned in life: One never has enough money--you just learn to live within your means and enjoy what you have.

Vets need a doctorate degree, and it is a very competitive field, much like medical school. Any health, biology, math or science degree can qualify you for entry into a Vet school as long as you meet the pre-reqs and grades. Check out a few top level Vet schools, and their pre-requisites and plan you college path accordingly. Some people have an advantage by doing their undergraduate studies at the college they hope to do their higher level degree. Keep a focus on keeping your grades up EARLY in your school career!

Evelyn

Veterinarians need a doctoral degree to practice independently. Take a pre-college curriculum in high school, including sciences, math and English. Some pre-vets study animal science in college, but not all. You can get the veterinary school requirements in with several majors. Veterinary technicians do similar work with less formal education. Be sure to try volunteer experiences with animals to help you pinpoint your interests.

Hi Ann!

Making a lot of money is only one aspect of finding an appropriate career area. A successful match is not all about money, it is about making a successful match with an appropriate career area. Becoming a vet is great, if it is what you are most suited for. Here is some important information that will help you to find the best path to follow, after which, I will present some helpful information about becoming a vet.

Making a successful match is individual. Success is a feeling when one experiences fulfillment and satisfaction with what one is doing in life. Success is looking forward to going to work or whatever activity one does during the day and enjoying it. Success is self-actualization and development of one's own interests.

Success starts with getting to know one's self. Completing these exercises will be a good first step to getting to know yourself:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/14-free-personality-tests-thatll-help-you-figure-yourself-out

A good next step is to get more information about those interest areas identified in the above exercises and learning how one might possibly prepare for them with the possibility of experiencing fulfillment and satisfaction. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. They may look great, but you need to try them on and walk in them for a while to determine the proper level of comfort and fit. The most frustrating times I spent when I was doing college recruiting were the times when a graduate, once on the job, determined that he/she did not like the job for which he/she had studied, as he/she did not take the time or effort to do appropriate "shoe shopping" and pay attention to their feelings of "comfort or discomfort".

Here are some good ways to get some great information and career exposure:
- talk to your school counselor about participating in coop, intern, shadowing, and volunteer programs that will allow you to see what people do, how they got there, what advice they have, and how you feel about it.
- talk to the head of alumni relations at your school to arrange to talk to graduates working in your area of interest to learn more from them
- as many people get their start at a community college, talk to the head of alumni relations at your local community college to arrange to talk to graduates in your area of interest to see what they are doing and see how they got there - talk to the head of alumni relations of any training program or facility related to your areas of interest to get valuable information from graduates and create valuable relationships.

Many different career and work areas require different types of education. Some can be prepared for during the last two years of high school. Some can be prepared for with some type of training or schooling or college after high school. Some can be prepared for by joining the military and benefiting from their training and educational financial assistance following your enlistment. By doing the exploration as outlined above, you will develop a sense of what is required to reach fulfillment in your career area. By doing the exploration as outlined above, you will develop a sense of how it will feel to be involved in such an area. Let your feelings be your guide.

As I have mentioned, and as you have come to realize, many different career and work areas require different paths through the training and education process, which is based upon your individual choice. Here is a very important video to watch as it highlights the importance of your personal choice:
http://www.ted.com/talks/julie_lythcott_haims_how_to_raise_successful_kids_without_over_parenting?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=talk&utm_term=education

To get more information about your career and work areas of interest, here are some good tips:
http://www.wikihow.com/Network
https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations
https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1

Here are sites that will provide very helpful information:
http://iwanttobeaveterinarian.org/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm

Best of luck! Be true to yourself. The feeling and concept of success is yours - and is very personal. Let me know if this is of help.